Istro-Romanians

The Istrorumänen (proper name: Rumari ) are a small Romanesque ethnic group, which is closely related to the Dakorumänen ( Romanians in the narrower sense), Meglenorumänen and the Aromanians and lives only in a few villages in eastern Istria. In the past (eg in the then standard work " The Austro- Hungarian Monarchy in Words and Pictures "), this ethnic group has been referred to as " Chi Chen " ( according to the region " Cicarija "). The strongest is the istrorumänische folklore still in Zejane ( istrorum. Jeiani ), 28 km north- west of Rijeka, alive. Overall, today only speak 500-1000 mostly older people istrorumänische language. The Italian 1921 census verzeichntete 1,644 Istrorumänen. The Istrorumänen are the last descendants of the Morlaken.